Parents information

My Kids are Talented

As a parent myself, I believe my kids are talented, smart, and have a very promising future. But does being talented mean that a student can skip fundamental skills and focus on playing one piece of music for years? Playing the piano or any other instrument is a work of art. It takes time to learn and time to mature. The process of becoming an artist is complex. It is like wine that needs time to be aged. Talent would help the progress but certainly not everything.

Laying a good foundation is crucial. This includes learning how to read music, count, and understand the musical background and theory behind the composition. So please be patient with your children in this process.  As a teacher, I believe if the child truly understands what they have learned, they should be able to teach themselves with minimum guidance from me. My goal is to help students look beyond music and help them bring individuality in their music. The same piece should sound different from each pianist. Many parents thank me when their children receive wonderful results in competitions or get accepted into top music schools. I always respond to them, “I only helped nurture what the student had. They always had it within them.”

Music School Audition

How early should I begin preparing my child for the audition?

For most students who have a solid foundation and fit with the school, preparations should take no more than one to two years.

Nonetheless, you cannot focus on preparing for the required repertoires for years and assume you will get into the school. Most of the reasons why students get rejected from schools are not because their repertoires are unprepared, but because other requirements are not met. Once you get accepted into the school, your child needs to be prepared to complete different repertoires and be ready for the jury in as short as 4-6 months. So please be considerate in your planning.  I have seen many students get accepted into their dream school by preparing pieces for years but end up dropping out in a few months. In a music school, knowing your repertoire is only one part. But there are many pieces to a whole. For example, music theory, ear training, sight reading, ensembles, music history, etc. help the student understand music more thoroughly.

Preparing for an audition for music school differs greatly from preparing for an ACT or SAT exam. It is a journey that requires endurance and patience.

Certificate of Merit (only in California) VS. Competitions

Certificate of Merit is a standardized test for music. I encourage all of my students to take it once they are ready. I advise this evaluation because it includes everything that the student should learn and know in their musical journey. Students can also use this to set clear goals in their progress. It is available for students of all ages. I recommended students take their first test when they are in first grade or higher.

Competitions

To be honest, you are only competing on one composition at a time. I enjoy seeing students compete to just display their highlights in their progress. I stress to my students that they are competing with their old selves. That is the goal for you. Did you play better than you did yesterday? Or the last time when you competed? Did you have a positive experience and learn from other competitors? You will be surprised to see many students or parents refuse to listen to other competitors. That defeats the purpose of competition. The purpose of a competition is for students to showcase their hard work and effort while also learning and observing from their peer’s techniques.